459: 8.59 Don't Be Afraid

8.59 Don't Be Afraid

Disclaimer: I was familiar with the bible throughout my school year, but if there's something wrong, please pardon me :') this chapter doesn't intend to offend anybody so please take it with a grain of salt ^^0

***

"Wait a minute." Lu Yizhou interrupted her by holding up a palm. "Mind elaborating more? Who is Jesus and why was he crucified? And resurrected? How?" 

He recalled one of the side quests 'Revive the Miss of the Knox Family' and his heart gave a little jump. He straightened up in attention. Somehow, he felt like what Olivia said would be crucial in the future…

Ji Yan got up from the floor to fetch the small thick bible which he had hidden inside the wardrobe before handing it over to Olivia. However, Olivia did not even open it. Instead, she only cradled the bible in her arms before speaking, "Let's see… According to the bible, Jesus was the son of God. I won't talk for long because you will get confused otherwise, just know that in the end, Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas. He was beaten, ridiculed, tortured and then hung to die in the same manner as the lowest criminal. It was stated that he died on Friday and when he breathed his last, the sky abruptly turned dark, the earth shook, rocks split open and many holy people that had died were raised to life." Olivia shrugged. "He died that way to repay our sins."

"Woah," Ji Yan exclaimed quietly in awe. "I never pegged you as someone so religious."

Olivia huffed and rolled her eyes. "Please, I am a Christian and that's common knowledge, okay?"

Lu Yizhou made a noise of confusion. "He was the son of God, but he was tortured and died a humiliating death to… repay humans' sin?"

"Uh-huh." Olivia nodded. "It's because our sins are too great and nothing we did could earn us a place in Heaven. That's why Jesus sacrificed himself to make us holy again."

Lu Yizhou was rendered speechless. One more sacrifice. It was always a sacrifice. First, Ariel sacrificed herself because of her love for the prince and then Jesus sacrificed himself for… what? His love for humanity? Could someone still love the very same people who had inflicted torture, humiliated and killed him? But of course, that was from a human's perspective. As the son of God, Jesus must have a heart as wide and deep as the ocean, enough to forgive the people who had done him wrong. 

Hence, Lu Yizhou chose to swallow his comments and instead, saying, "I have two questions."

Olivia gestured for him to go ahead just like a prim and demure teacher.

"First, why was he crucified in the first place? And second, how was he resurrected?"

"Firstly, it's because people did not believe his identity as the son of God." Olivia said with the patience Lu Yizhou had never seen in her before. "Second, I don't really get your question by how, but if you're asking the reason behind Jesus' resurrection, it was to prove that he was indeed the son of God. He had risen from the dead and gained a place in Heaven and at the same time, our sins were washed away. His resurrection is a symbol for atonement, redemption, and salvation."

Ji Yan nodded sagely. "That sounds awesome, but I still don't understand how it's related to the game."

[666: oh my Admin God, 666 agrees with the protagonist 100%... This is all so confusing!]

'Not to burst your bubble, Daddy,' Ozzie slumped on his shoulder and covered her face with her paw. 'Analyzing has never been my strong point so I am going to leave it to you meow.'

Lu Yizhou tapped his fingers on his arm, contemplating.

So, if he were to break the sequence of events by its core, then there were three main events he should take note of. First, the betrayal that landed Jesus in his predicament in the first place. Second, the crucifixion and third, resurrection. 

The first clue, Soul Swapping Ritual book, had referred to the black witch. The second clue, The Little Mermaid, had pointed them toward Madam Knox's real identity. And lastly the bible, it must be about Miss Knox or to be exact, his lover.

Jesus was crucified and breathed his last on Friday… Did it mean that something awful was going to happen to his lover tonight? And moreover, she was going to be resurrected on Sunday? That was plausible. 

But there was still one more thing Lu Yizhou could not think through.

—The betrayal. 

Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples. If he projected Jesus into Miss Knox, then who had betrayed her? Who had a hand in sending her to her demise? It must be someone close, someone she had never expected before…

Lu Yizhou suddenly stood up, startling the other two. He slapped himself on the forehead. How could he have forgotten that he still had not finished reading Ella's diary yet?! There were still a few entries he had not gone through! The puzzle pieces had been gathered on the table, but he was still missing the big picture. He had to finish reading Ella's diary first and foremost!

"W–What's wrong?" Ji Yan and Olivia asked with a surprised look.

Lu Yizhou merely dropped one sentence, "Stay here." Then he marched back to his room and took Ella's diary which he had saved inside his suitcase. When he returned, Ji Yan and Olivia were still in the same position, staring at him with a confused look. Once again, Lu Yizhou forgot that he had not told the two protagonists yet. "This is Ella's diary, I found it on the fourth floor."

As he expected, Olivia immediately burst into complaints. "Why didn't you tell us sooner you have something this important with you?!"

Lu Yizhou replied dryly. "I forgot. I will let you two read it later but first," he sat down on the bed and flipped to the last page he left off. He needed no distractions for this one. "Please don't bother me when I am reading."

"Rude," Olivia muttered out loud which earned her a hush from Ji Yan. She snorted and deliberately raised her voice higher. "What? You're taking her side now?"

Lu Yizhou did not listen to their bantering anymore as his eyes skimmed across the writing on the paper. The last entry he had read was when Ella was slapped by Master Knox. Furious, Ellie had told her that she was going to have a talk with him. What had happened after that, he wondered?

[Something is wrong with Daddy. I can't really explain it but I know something is different. Let me tell you what I have noticed. First, he no longer gets angry at me when I talk about Sister. Instead he looks kinda… afraid? Second, his temper has worsened. I know that Daddy is not the most patient man in the world but he is always gentle and affectionate with us. But just the other day, I heard him yelling at Mommy, berating her for something I can't understand. Is it only my imagination or…?]

[Sister said that he deserves it.]

[Mommy's health is getting worse and worse. I don't like this. I can't play with Mommy anymore because she needs to see doctors. Many doctors.]

Lu Yizhou counted the date and realized that Ella must have been nine years old at this entry. Even then Madam Knox was already sick? It was totally different from what was stated in the quest background. Lu Yizhou sighed. He should have known that the world would not be giving them the full story. Unfortunately, Ella did not detail what kind of sickness it was in her diary. She just mainly groused about her concern and displeasure at having their quality time together being cut off short. 

Lu Yizhou flipped through the next few pages and finally arrived at the day when the black witch came to the house. 

[Today, two doctors came. One dressed in black and one dressed in white. They look so similar to each other if not for their different hair and dress color. Sister said that they are twins. Twins are born at the same time from their mommy's tummy. That's why they are supposed to be similar.

But they are not similar at all. I don't like the one in black. She's a bad witch! I told Daddy that I saw dark shadows around her when she examined Mommy but he didn't believe me! Sister did, though. Sister told me to be careful.]

Lu Yizhou was stunned. Two doctors? One of them must be the black witch and for the other one… who? And moreover, twins? 

He decided to save his doubt for later and finished reading until the end. 

[Daddy doesn't let me near Mommy and the bad witch (I decided to call her that inside my head) again after my last tantrums. It's already bad enough that she is lathering her dark shadows all over Mommy's body, what does it mean that she wants to do it to me too?! I don't want to! I don't want her to get close to me!]

[Daddy still doesn't believe me. He thinks I have gone crazy… But I am not crazy. I am not crazy right…?]

From that entry on, Ella's writing became messier and rougher, almost as if she was scribbling furiously on the paper. There were also a few torn pages and dried tear stains. Every single page was filled with her sadness, anger and fear.

When he imagined how anxious and frightened she was, a pang of pain shot through his heart. She was only nine years old. No matter what she said, the adults around her had taken it as a mere children's ramble. She had nowhere to turn to except for her diary and her Sister, who had become her spiritual pillar and emotional support. 

There were two entries left.

[I suspect that the bad witch has taken Mommy and Daddy under her control. I looked into Mommy's eyes… and I instantly realized she is not the Mommy I know any longer. Where is Mommy? She is not Mommy! She's the bad witch that is wearing Mommy's skin! Daddy… that's right, I have to tell Daddy. Only Daddy can save Mommy now! But will he believe me this time? Daddy has changed so much. I no longer understand him. Why doesn't he listen to me? If… If he could just take my words into consideration…

What should I do? I am scared…]

Lu Yizhou's finger froze on the very last page because… it was not Ella's writing. It was bolder, graceful and sleek. There was a sureness and maturity in every stroke of the handwriting that Ella did not have.

[It's okay, my dear. I am going to create a world where it will be safe for us. Everyone in this world can betray you, but I will stay by your side, always. So please… don't be afraid any longer. 

– E]

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